Use Music to Motivate

I absolutely love teaching Zumba. The Latin-inspired dance workout is not for everybody. But for me, it’s been the easiest way to lose weight because I never get bored of working out.

A significant part of it is the music. I like to turn up the volume and use different tempos to vary the pace of the class.

The idea is to get lost in the music. You stop thinking about how tired your legs are or how hard it is to lift those knees one more time, and a little bit higher.

Although Zumba has only recently hits its popularity in the last few years, people have been using music to motivate themselves for decades.

Remember Jazzercise? It’s still around and faring well.

Many people love group cycling class for the same reasons I hear people give when they talk about their “addiction” to Zumba.

When the cycling class starts, the lights go dim and the music gets turned up. Instructors will fine-tune their playlist so the songs are perfect for climbing hills, sprinting or riding a flat hill.

Adding music to your workout can make a big difference in not only how exhausted you feel, but in how many calories you burn.

According to a British researcher, recreational runners were able to boost their performance as much as 20 percent when they listened to music on their iPods.

The conclusion: music enables people to dissociate themselves from the hard work of vigorous exercise.

It certainly works for me.

Alice Warchol is a fitness instructor and freelance health writer.

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